Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-13
"REMINISCENCES OF ARCHER.
Not So Pleasing "a View of a National Idol.
How He Won His Stakes.

How He Won His Stakes.
Round the principal entrance of the
Grand Hotel in Trafalgar Square was
grouped n swarm of menials, who did not
seem to trouble themselves over much
about the incoming guests. But now n
handsome approached with the,rapidity Of
lightning, the cabman pulled up his horse
sharply and out stepped young man, tall
and slim, wearing an OvercOat
trimmed with astrakhan reaching down
to his heels. He cast dull, tired look
around him; it was Fred Archer. You
recognized him Immediately by his thin,
pale face, the upper lip slightly raised,
pushed up by the two front teeth. Now,
what clearing of the decks by the serv
ants. 4 prince of the blood wOuld not
have been better received. The handsome
cab driver beamed with delight at having
brought such an illustrious parsonage, and
gave the hotel servants full particulars rs
To how, when and where he had been SO
lucky ~ to pick up THE great Fred"
Two hours alterward, when the sale a
mango OF the Grand Hotel was full, all
heads turned simultaneously To see NJ.
Frederick Archer enter the room He was
in evening dress, and looked exceedingly
we'll His cleaning linen set OF the pale
ness of his complexion; his black, shiny
haIr WAS carefully hut simply parted-in
Iact, there was not u detail OF his elegant
toilet which was not perfectly correct. Mr..
Archer, formerly a stable lad, looked at
that moment like the most distingue Of
gentlemen. IL, however, YOU went and
seated vnurselfat his table, by the side oi
Capt Barclay, his constant acolyte, YOU
speedily saw that Fred Archcr'S dIStinc-
ton WAS only superficial. Sneering trlca-
nant also means ''giggling" every moment,
and Harding his remarks with the most
malapropOs Oaths, ne spoke in u drawing
and nasal tone of his victories, his bets, OF
I'll which concerned him personally.
II was money which concerned him most
Frederick Archer was very miSerly, and the
other Jockeys, his rivals, say that the great
sObriCty which distinguished him was the
result less OF virtuOus tendencies than OF Il
horror of parting" Like all true miSerS
Archer not only wanted to keep all he had
made but To make as much more ~ posi-
bile. 1t is principally owing Ia this char
teriStiC beyond doubt that he died ten
times millionaire. Other English jock
rys have earned large sums; Archer Is the
only one among them who knew how to
keep his money.
Archer always had the best mounts
Other jockeys were just as good, but he
was the fashion, until the people began to
believe that there was only one Jockey,
only one Archer, in the world. Archer
had plenty of spirit, and his method was a
successful one hut the principal experts
of the English turf say that he often lost
races through being over confident. His
great cndeavOr WAS to finish" brilliantly;
this often gave him the appearance of
winning by toWr de force race winch
another Jockey would have been content
to carry off without posing" Being q
nervous man Archer lacked head" Tom
Cannon was greatly his superior in this
respect; so was George Fordham in his
prime. 1t is particularly in connection
with iOckeyShip that that one can quote
I.arochefoucald Nothing succeeds like
success" Archer'S career proves it
w. DcIiHe n Paris Figaro.